Afghanistan need to work on their finishing: Jonathan Trott

Afghanistan managed to score just 27 runs in the last five overs against Uganda on June 3 (Monday), that prevented them from going past 200 after their openers had put up over 150 for the first wicket.

In fact, since 2023, Afghanistan have the third-worst run-rate (Run-rate 9.4) at the death among the top 10 teams and head coach Jonathan Trott has emphasised on the fact that they need to finish the innings off well.

"I think finishing the innings," Trott said when asked areas his team had to work on in the next round of matches. 

"I think coming into the tournament and starting on these wickets, especially against a slightly older ball, is a little bit tricky. So we've got to get better at that. We only scored 30-odd in the last six overs. And with the platform we had, we should have done a bit better. 

"We shuffled the order a little bit, and maybe that's our fault a little bit, as coaches, decision making, mixing the order up a little bit left, right hand. We want to look at that and hopefully get that right next game. There's always areas to improve. Fielding, bowling, death bowling, variations, boundary hitting. So we're looking to improve the whole time."

Trott was also pleased that Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran played normal cricketing shots and at no point did they look to slog. 

"The thing that was pleasing for me was the way that they batted. They didn't try and hit or slog the ball. They played some fantastic cricket shots. And that's a pleasing thing, that they don't have to go out there and force it. They naturally score quickly. But it's about being able to do both. If the conditions suggest that they can't score at that pace, they need to be able to adapt," Trott observed. 

"And obviously, Gurbaz going to the IPL and not playing. And then being called upon in the last couple of games and being able to perform shows the strength of character, but also the skill and the determination to do well.

"So I'm very pleased that he was able to play in the IPL and they gave him a few warm-up games for the World Cup, and so we get players in form and being one of nine players at the IPL I think it must be a record for Afghanistan and hopefully it only becomes more but the more that the guys play in pressure tournaments like that, exposure to crowds and playing with world-class players and coaches – it’s only going to improve the standard of our players and very exciting."

Fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi picked up his maiden five-wicket haul and Trott was over the moon with his performance today, despite warming the bench during the IPL.

"Another person's been to the IPL for a couple of months, didn't play but his work - looks like he's worked really hard in his game and very pleased for him today the way that he was able to bowl and stuck to his plans and showed his skill that he is able to swing the ball and take wickets early always creates trouble for the opposition and gets us going in the right direction," Trott said.

Afghanistan's massive 125-run victory in the first game gives them a huge advantage as far as their net run-rate is concerned. They will hope to keep the momentum going when they take on Afghanistan on June 7 (Friday) in a Group C fixture.

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